Over the past 15 years, Alltech has grown its portfolio significantly. From soil health to solutions for sustainable animal production, the company has an unparalleled global offering of technologies and services to support its customers worldwide with efficient, profitable and sustainable agriculture.

To reflect this growth in its customer offering, Alltech has formed a new team, the Technology Group. This team will be responsible for Alltech’s nutritional technologies, services and technical support. Its focus will be on providing customers with the Alltech advantage, drawing upon company’s diverse range of solutions and services to offer customized support.

To lead the Technology Group, Alltech has appointed:

• Nick Adams (UK), commercial director. Adams has worked with Alltech for 24 years, most recently as global director of the Alltech Mycotoxin Management platform.

• Dr. Jules Taylor-Pickard (UK), technical director. Taylor-Pickard has worked with Alltech for 22 years and previously served as global director of the Alltech Gut Health platform.

• Martin Minchin (UK), commercial marketing director. Minchin previously served as global marketing manager of the Alltech Mycotoxin Management platform. He has been with Alltech for nearly seven years.

Other recent Alltech appointments include:

• Steve Elliott (U.S.), global vice president, corporate accounts and pet. Elliott has been with Alltech for more than 29 years in a variety of roles. Most recently, he served as global director of the mineral management division.

• Russell Gilliam (U.S.), global director of business development for pork. Gilliam has worked with Alltech for nearly 24 years. Prior to this role, he was Alltech’s U.S. pork business leader.

• Dr. Daniel Graugnard (U.S.), dairy research director. Graugnard, who has worked with Alltech for more than 12 years, most recently served as monogastric research director.

• Dr. Jose Soto (U.S.), monogastric research director. Soto most recently served as global swine technical manager. He has worked with Alltech for two-and-a-half years.

• Claire Boudwin (U.S.), global product launch marketing manager. Boudwin, who previously served as North American species marketing manager, has worked with Alltech for nearly six years.

• William Wallis (U.S.), Eastern U.S. marketing manager, is now also serving as U.S. poultry marketing manager. Wallis has worked with Alltech for 12 years.

For more information, visit alltech.com.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — E. Michael Castle II has been appointed chief operations and financial officer at Alltech.

Castle has been with Alltech for 19 years, most recently serving as chief operating officer and CEO of the Alltech Feed Division. He has deep experience in the business globally, having also served as chief administrative and legal officer, among other roles.

Castle began his career at Alltech as an engineering intern. He went on to earn a Juris Doctor from Washington University St. Louis School of Law and then returned to Alltech.

"Having worked with Alltech for almost two decades, Mike has Alltech DNA through and through. He worked closely with our leadership team and my father on many of the most important deals in our history. Since the passing of Dr. Pearse Lyons in 2018, Mike and I have worked hand in glove to lead the business,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “In all his endeavors, Mike has demonstrated unparalleled dedication, exemplary leadership and a passion for excellence. He is an invaluable asset to Alltech – and a trusted friend and colleague to me. There is no one better prepared — and no one I'd rather work alongside — to lead Alltech into the future.”

Castle is supported in leadership of Alltech’s financial strategy by:

• May Xu, deputy CFO, audit and reporting
• Flora Djojo, chief tax officer
• AnaLucia Medrano, who has been promoted to director of financial planning and analysis (FP&A). Medrano most recently served as finance director of Alltech Crop Science.
• Hemant Gandhi, vice president of finance, global treasury

Alric Blake, former CFO and CEO of Alltech who served as interim CFO over 2023 Q3-Q4, will remain a senior advisor to the business.

“Alltech has an exciting future built on its strong foundation of helping farmers, ranchers and producers nourish the world and nurture the planet,” said Castle. “I am pleased to continue working alongside Dr. Mark Lyons to help Alltech capitalize on opportunities to provide solutions that improve the health of animals and the soil, maximize the value of feed, increase on-farm efficiency and help lower environmental impact.”

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — This year, U.S. farmers and producers have experienced droughts, high rainfall, and other weather events affecting the corn harvest, making it more critical than ever to analyze mycotoxin risks across the nation. The Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis has collected and assessed almost 450  new-crop samples from across the U.S., and the results show regional variation in mycotoxin risk. Samples showed lower risk in the upper Midwest and higher risk in the East. A combination of drought and untimely rains led to much of the risk.   

Mycotoxins are produced by certain species of molds and are a concern for livestock producers, as they can influence feed quality and subsequent animal health and performance. The Alltech U.S. Harvest Analysis, a decade-long initiative, is a comprehensive step in understanding the complexities of new-crop quality, mycotoxin prevalence, and the threat that mycotoxins pose to animals and producers. To determine the most accurate representation of mycotoxin risk across the U.S., samples are collected by Alltech representatives and sent to the Alltech 37^+®laboratory at the company’s headquarters in Kentucky, which can detect up to 54 individual mycotoxins.

The corn silage and corn grain crops for the U.S. in 2023 have been a “moving target” for mycotoxin risk, according to Dr. Max Hawkins, technical support manager with Alltech’s mycotoxin management team.

“Drought in the Southwest and the Western Corn Belt created distinct fumonisin risks in this region, while further eastward, late season rainfall created ideal conditions for Fusarium toxins such as type B trichothecenes to flourish,” he said.

As always, Dr. Hawkins recommends routine monitoring of these ingredients during storage, noting, “Ingredients will rarely be in better condition than when they are harvested.’’

Key insights from the Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis include:

•Dry conditions in the West created more fumonisin risk, while the later, rain-affected harvest in the East resulted in higher levels of deoxynivalenol (DON).

•In general, the mycotoxin challenge in corn grain and corn silage is lower in 2023 than in recent years. However, there are still pockets of higher risk in the Midwest and the South.

•A surprisingly high risk of aflatoxin B1 was identified in Iowa this year. Another surprising find was Penicillium present in grains, since they are typically a concern in forages.

•A good amount of corn went into storage at 14% moisture this year. It will be crucial to monitor corn coming out of storage, as it may be at higher risk now than when it was first stored.

Corn

Mycotoxin levels continue to be higher in the East and Midwest U.S., specifically for Fusarium mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON). Earlier harvest conditions and drier conditions in the West helped to create lower risk conditions. However, producers there should be aware of a higher fumonisin risk.

More than 190 new-crop corn grain samples were analyzed this year, and results show an average of 4.4 mycotoxins per sample, with 87% of samples having multiple mycotoxins. Beyond the DON and fumonsin risks already described, another interesting finding was a high level of aflatoxin B1 identified in Iowa. Producers should be vigilant about testing their grains.

Corn silage

Drought early in the growing season negatively affected corn silage in the West this harvest season. The stress of dry conditions followed by moisture allowed certain molds to flourish, particularly Fusarium molds. In the East, the risk was varied, but overall higher. Feed and livestock producers are encouraged to continue to monitor and test silage in storage every 60 to 90 days. This will help inform them of the mycotoxin risk they are facing as the season progresses.

The Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis demonstrates that mycotoxins are an ongoing, dynamic issue that livestock producers need to manage. Although testing directly post harvest provides an overview of regional contamination patterns, what happens before the animal receives the feed — including storage conditions post harvest and feeding practices on-farm — can influence what the animal will actually be ingesting in terms of mycotoxins. To best manage this ongoing challenge, producers should consider a routine testing program that can uncover the specific risks. With this information, informed choices can be made on what mitigation strategies are necessary to support the health and performance of the animals. 

To access the complete report, as well as a series of videos that provide further species-specific insights, visit Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis. For more information about Alltech Mycotoxin Management solutions, visit knowmycotoxins.com.

To assess an operation’s mycotoxin risk, the mycotoxin type and concentration must first be determined. Mycotoxin testing types are generally classified into either rapid test methods or the more advanced laboratory-based detection. The primary rapid test methods include lateral flow devices (LFDs) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Of the lab-based methods used for mycotoxin analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLCMS/MS) are two of the most widely recognized.

The test method influences the risk assessment

As a greater number of mycotoxin types are analyzed, a better picture of the total mycotoxin risk can be determined. But what happens if a test only looks for a limited number of mycotoxins in the first place? Traditional mycotoxin guidelines that only consider one mycotoxin at a time are not always helpful for gaining a better understanding of the true risk of exposure for the animal.

This lack of information about the total risk is why the Alltech Mycotoxin Management team developed a tailored risk assessment method in 2012. Known as Risk Equivalent Quantity (REQ), this method provides feed and livestock producers with a unique way to identify the true risk associated with the presence of multiple mycotoxins in raw materials or finished feeds. Using the REQ value to compare the difference between assessing one mycotoxin, six mycotoxins or 54 mycotoxins, it is possible for producers to see how much they might be underestimating their risk if a test only analyzes the feed for a limited number of mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins in corn grain and the risk for monogastric animals

Based on samples analyzed by Alltech 37+ over a five-year period between 2018 and 2023 (Table 1), if aflatoxin (AF) was the only mycotoxin measured in the feed, the mycotoxin risk for sows would be underestimated by 96% (Figure 1). This makes sense, as aflatoxins were only detected in 9% of those samples, whereas other mycotoxins were detected more frequently.

In situations where the only option is to test for one mycotoxin, analyzing samples for deoxynivalenol (DON) is slightly better than analyzing for AF, as doing so led to an underestimation of 77% of the risk to sows. Still, there are many mycotoxins that are typically present in corn that are yet to be accounted for. When corn grain is analyzed for all six mycotoxins that can be detected through a rapid test method, the overall risk assessment is closer to what would be delivered by testing for an increased number of mycotoxins.

A similar underestimation of risk would occur for poultry. Using the same corn grain samples mentioned above, the risk assessment would be underestimated for broilers by 92% or 59% when the analysis only considered AF or DON, respectively (Figure 1), whereas an analysis of six mycotoxins reduces that risk underestimation to 21%. The presence of fusaric acid and other emerging mycotoxins would not be detected by rapid test methods, but many of the mycotoxins posing the greatest risk to pigs and poultry — such as DON, zearalenone and T-2/HT-2 — would be included.

Figure 1 – Differences in risk assessment in corn grain and corn silage (to broilers, sows and dairy cows)

Corn silage and dairy cows

Similar to grain, total mycotoxin risk assessment of corn silage can vary depending on the mycotoxins analyzed (Figure 1). In this case, assessment for only AF could result in a 99% underestimation of total risk for dairy cows, as AF was detected in only 9% of samples, with the majority of these containing very low concentrations (median <1 ppb). Sample analysis for only DON would be better — in this case, a 60% underestimation of total risk — but again, many key mycotoxin groups would not be detected. Assessment for 6 mycotoxins comes closer to the total risk assessed by the more advanced laboratory method, but this assessment in corn silage does not get as close to those results as the similar assessment in corn grain. This may be due to the higher occurrence and concentrations of mycotoxins such as fusaric acid, Penicillium mycotoxins and Aspergillus mycotoxins in corn silage.

Using readily available data, the comparisons in these examples were made using Alltech 37+ as the most comprehensive risk assessment method. This method identifies 54 individual mycotoxins. If other LMCS methods were used to identify an even greater number of mycotoxin types, the potential risk underestimation when only relying on rapid test methods would likely be amplified.

Mycotoxin testing plan

Although assessment of a limited number of mycotoxins by simpler analytical methods may not provide the full picture of an animal’s exposure to mycotoxins, these rapid test methods are still a valuable and accurate means of testing for mycotoxins. Many of these rapid test kits have been validated, with validation results published in scientific journals. The best mycotoxin management program is typically based on a combination of on-site rapid testing and laboratory-based analysis. Rapid tests can be used for routine testing where speed and cost are of concern, but periodic mycotoxin testing by laboratory-based methods can be used to learn about more complex mycotoxin mixtures.

Turning analysis into a control program

It is important to remember that at any point in time, the results of the average mycotoxin analysis can only show you a best-case scenario. In those cases, the mycotoxin levels will remain the same in the tested ingredient or ration — but they can continue to increase over time during storage. Equally, the total risk can be greater when multiple ingredient sources are brought together. Without knowing the full mycotoxin profile of a commodity or ration, developing a mycotoxin management program may be difficult. We also learned from the examples included above that analyzing samples for only one mycotoxin can lead to a significant underestimation of the total risk, even if the results for that particular mycotoxin type are accurate. Testing for a greater number of mycotoxins allows for the creation of a more accurate picture of the risk to the animal.

Determining the presence of multiple mycotoxins is important, but there may be a limit on the number of mycotoxins that can be assessed in a ration. More than 500 mycotoxin compounds have been identified, but it is sometimes not possible to routinely test for this number. Furthermore, it is still unknown how many of those mycotoxins impact animal performance and health. However, most mycotoxins are detrimental to animal performance, welfare and profitability.

To effectively combat the mycotoxin risk, a complete mycotoxin management program that focuses on identifying, quantifying and mitigating the risk level is needed. From a nutritional perspective, risk mitigation can be achieved directly within the animal through the use of Alltech’s Mycosorb® range of mycotoxin adsorbents, a family of products that contain yeast cell wall extract and can help to manage the collective mycotoxin challenge in the animal. Recently published meta-analyses with broilers and nursery and grow-finish pigs (Weaver et al., 2022; Weaver et al., 2023) reaffirm that when mycotoxins pose a problem, Mycosorb can play a role in improving performance, efficiency and livability. Mycosorb has even been linked to the improved environmental sustainability of broiler production.

To learn more about the tools and technologies offered by the Alltech Mycotoxin Management program, visit knowmycotoxins.com.

References are available on request.

This blog post is an updated version of an article published in All About Feed on October 23, 2023.

[DUNBOYNE, Ireland] – Variable weather has once again dominated crop quality and mycotoxin contamination patterns in Europe, with a distinct split between northern and southern regions. The Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis has collected and assessed over 1,100 grain and forage samples from more than 20 different countries, and the results show an overall higher-risk mycotoxin year in Europe in 2023. While Europe enjoyed a reprieve this growing season from the extreme drought conditions of the past 2–3 years, rains that fell close to harvest in northern and western Europe caused delays in harvesting that created ideal conditions for mould and mycotoxin development.

Mycotoxins are produced by certain species of moulds and are a concern for livestock producers as they can influence feed quality and subsequent animal health and performance. The Alltech European Harvest Analysis, a decade-long initiative, is a comprehensive step in understanding the complexities of new-crop quality, mycotoxin prevalence and the threat that mycotoxins pose to animals and producers. To determine the most accurate representation of mycotoxin risk across Europe, Alltech has again collaborated with SGS, a global leader in mycotoxin testing and certification. Their expert testing, along with testing by the independently accredited Alltech 37+® laboratory in Ireland, which can detect up to 54 individual mycotoxins, has captured a highly accurate and robust set of new-crop mycotoxin data across 20 countries in Europe.  

‘’In contrast to recent years, it is excessive rain rather than drought that has been the primary driver of mycotoxin risk in Europe,” said Dr. Radka Borutova, European technical support manager with the Alltech Mycotoxin Management team. “The delayed harvest in northern and western regions has created particular problems in small grains and forages across this region, while further south, corn crops have fared much better than last year, although, as we always try to highlight, low risk does not mean no risk.’’

Key insights from the Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis include:

• Persistent rains close to harvesting have led to significant Fusarium-related challenges in wheat and barley crops across northern and western Europe.

• Barley shows the highest risk of the small grains, with an average of six mycotoxins per sample.

• In general, the mycotoxin challenge in corn is lower in 2023 than in recent years. However, there are still pockets of higher risk in central and southern Europe.

• The Penicillium risk continues to dominate in forages. In particular, grass silage in the UK and Ireland is heavily contaminated and presents an ongoing management challenge for dairy producers there.

Corn

Aflatoxin challenges arising from drought-stricken corn have dominated the mycotoxin picture in Europe in recent years, so growers were thankful not to suffer the same fate in 2023. However, it was still not a perfect growing season.

More than 700 new-crop corn samples were analysed this year, and results showed aflatoxins were detected in almost 70% of samples from central and southern Europe, with average levels of 6 ppb. However, most of the risk in corn is coming from Fusarium mycotoxins such as zearalenone, deoxynivalenol (DON) and T2-HT2 toxins. Ochratoxin was more prevalent this year than in 2022, with average levels detected of 28 ppb. The overall corn risk is deemed low to moderate when Alltech’s REQ metric is applied.

Wheat and barley

New-crop samples of wheat and barley typically originated in countries across northern and western Europe. Conditions in this region deteriorated badly around mid-June, and from then onwards, unsettled weather caused havoc with harvest dates, resulting in crops standing much longer in the field than they usually would. The combination of wet and humid conditions with a delayed harvest resulted in the ideal conditions for Fusarium moulds to thrive.

This has directly manifested in elevated levels of mycotoxins in these small grains, with barley posing particular problems. Although specific reasons are unidentified, barley is much higher risk than wheat, and contains almost double the number of mycotoxins per sample.

Penicillium mycotoxins are not something we would typically associate with small grains at harvest time, but they have been more commonly detected this year, possibly due to the extremely challenging field conditions. Emerging mycotoxins are the most common groups detected across both ingredients, but the most risk is coming from type B trichothecenes. In barley, average levels of this group were at 922 ppb, with an extraordinary maximum of almost 29,000 ppb detected in one Finnish sample.

Forages

Although the Penicillium challenge has been the dominant talking point with forages over the past few years, it is worth comparing the mycotoxin profiles and primary risk drivers in corn silage and grass silage.

As with most ingredients, emerging mycotoxins are most prominent. However, in corn silage, type B trichothecenes are present in over 95% of samples, with average levels of 1,561 ppb, amplifying the risk. In comparison, grass silage is facing the greatest risk from Penicillium mycotoxins, with average levels of 338 ppb and an occurrence above 62%. Dr. Borutova has noted that when both of these ingredients are included in a total mixed ration (TMR) diet, this can create an even greater risk for dairy or beef animals.

The late harvest in northern and western Europe amplified the challenge in straw that was lying on the ground for a prolonged length of time. The 60 straw samples submitted to the lab this year were, as in recent years, heavily contaminated with emerging mycotoxins and type B trichothecenes. Average levels of type B trichothecenes were almost 1,500 ppb. This is something for livestock producers to be aware of wherever straw is being used either as bedding or as a feed material.

The Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis demonstrates that mycotoxins are an ongoing, dynamic issue that livestock producers need to manage. Although testing directly post harvest provides an overview of regional contamination patterns, what happens before the animal receives the feed — including storage conditions post harvest and feeding practices on-farm — can influence what the animal will actually be ingesting in terms of mycotoxins. To best manage this ongoing challenge, producers should consider a routine testing program that can uncover the specific risks. With this information, informed choices can be made on what mitigation strategies are necessary to support the health and performance of the animals. 

To access the complete report, as well as a series of videos that provide further species-specific insights, visit Alltech 2023 European Harvest Analysis. For more information about Alltech Mycotoxin Management solutions, visit knowmycotoxins.com.

[LEXINGTON, Kentucky] — Alltech, a leading global animal health and nutrition company, has been awarded a silver medal from EcoVadis — putting it in the top 25% of sustainable companies globally. The EcoVadis silver medal testifies to Alltech’s purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty^TM and its commitment to prioritizing the efficient production of nutritious food while minimizing environmental impact, implementing environmentally and economically sustainable solutions, promoting fair labor practices and fostering ethical business conduct. 

Alltech has also earned the EcoVadis platinum medal for its production site in Springfield, Kentucky, USA, which puts it in the top 1% of the over 200,000 businesses assessed by EcoVadis. Alltech Coppens, which produces industrial feeds for the aquaculture sector, earned gold-medal status, putting it in the top 7% of sustainable companies globally.

“We are delighted to have received multiple EcoVadis medals, as an external endorsement of Alltech’s ongoing commitment to the journey that is sustainability,” said Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech.

EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence and collaborative performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Backed by a powerful technology platform and a global team of domain experts, EcoVadis assesses companies on environmental, social and ethical performance in over 200 purchasing categories and 175 countries.

“At Alltech, we see opportunities in every challenge. We are dedicated to delivering smarter, more sustainable solutions to advance the health and performance of animals while also lowering their impact on the environment,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “These awards from EcoVadis recognize the actions we are taking to align our business with our Planet of Plenty purpose — working together to provide nutrition for all, revitalize local economies and replenish the planet’s natural resources.”

Earlier this year, Alltech released its 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report, which demonstrates the actions the company is taking to align the business with its commitments to the United Nations Global Compact, the U.N. Ten Principles and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, the report outlines the steps Alltech has taken to promote an inclusive work environment and highlights its team members’ efforts to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.

For more information, visit Alltech.com.

The Alltech ONE World Tour (ONE), a series of international events bringing the ideas and inspiration of the annual Alltech ONE Conference to the world, resumed today in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. ONE Dubai welcomed international attendees to explore collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry in the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

For the past 38 years, the Alltech ONE Conference has been held in Lexington, Kentucky, the home of Alltech’s global headquarters. In 2023, however, the company — a global leader in the field of agriculture — is bringing the conference to its partners, customers, suppliers and friends around the world, providing the opportunity for more people than ever to experience the power of ONE.

“As our customers and partners continue to face many challenges and uncertainties, we determined that 2023 would be dedicated to meeting them in their markets,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “This special edition of the ONE endeavors to deliver global expertise to locally relevant issues. In the midst of economic and political uncertainties that fuel regionalization, this ONE reflects the responsibility we have as a global company to be a connector of people and ideas, ever advancing our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.”

Alltech ONE Dubai features discussions led by local and international experts about the latest trends in sustainable agricultural, animal nutrition and business, including presentations from Dr. Lyons; Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech; Sheikh Dr. Majid Al Qassimi, founding partner at Soma Mater; and Gerald Kiernan, general manager of dairy farms, Emirates Food Industries (EFI).

In his opening remarks, Dr. Lyons welcomed delegates to Dubai to discuss agriculture’s role in saving the planet.

“Agriculture can transform things in ways that other industries cannot and we are at the interface of nourishing the present and preserving the future,” he said. “Our belief is that agriculture has the greatest potential to positively influence the future of our planet, provide nutrition for all, help rural communities thrive and replenish our planet’s resources.”

Alltech recently released the results of the Alltech Sustainability Insights report, and McCarthy discussed those findings in further detail during her presentation.

“Our industry is navigating unprecedented disruption yet remains confident and committed to evolving toward a more sustainable food system,” she said. “The key to success will be the development of innovative solutions, but even more critical is the capacity of the industry to work together across the value chain.”

Sheikh Dr. Majid Al Qassimi focused on how the UAE is making food and agriculture systems more equitable, accessible and sustainable.

"For the National Farms Sustainability Initiative, it wasn’t enough to have our own farms start, but to ensure that we start with sustainability in mind,” he said. “Today, more than ever, consumers want to see sustainability in all their products, including their food.”

Kiernan spoke about Alltech’s and EFI’s recent Planet of Plenty™ partnership with National Dairy Farms and Masakin Dairy Farms, two prominent companies owned by EFI, to bring leading-edge carbon footprint benchmarking and methane-reducing technologies to the Middle East.

“With growing concerns about climate change, companies worldwide are under increasing pressure to adopt eco-conscious practices,” said Kiernan. “As industry leaders, National and Masakin recognize the importance of curbing greenhouse gas emissions and setting new sustainability benchmarks.”

Kiernan’s comments were echoed by Paul McVeigh, regional manager for Alltech in the Middle East.

“The solidification of many years of collaboration with EFI in a Planet of Plenty Partnership represents the goals of the wider global Alltech family,” said McVeigh. “This partnership illustrates what is possible in the Middle East region when companies join forces toward a single goal, and we are dedicated to supporting them with the best available nutritional technologies to achieve more milk while reducing their environmental footprint.”

As ONE Dubai continues, delegates will hear from industry experts on various topics, including ruminant and poultry sessions focused on mycotoxin management, calf nutrition, dairy farming waste management, egg quality and mineral management, as well as carbon policies.

The Alltech ONE World Tour will continue with international stops in 2024, uniting changemakers and thought leaders throughout the global ag value chain to explore opportunities for agriculture. For more information and to register for an Alltech ONE World Tour stop, visit one.alltech.com.

Our swine industry is one of constant improvement, and with those improvements come unforeseen consequences. One exciting trend has been the continual increase year after year in total pigs born per litter. However, as litter sizes continue to increase, so too does the time it takes the sow to complete the farrowing process. This can increase the incidence of stillborn pigs and limit sow productivity.

One strategy to mitigate this is the use of dietary fiber or reduced feeding intervals during the periparturient period, but this is not always possible. More opportunities certainly exist to optimize the number of live-born piglets in these increasing litter numbers, improving sow throughput.

Our group recently launched Triad®, which was developed to aid the farrowing process. Triad is a unique blend of ingredients encapsulated in an aromatic fat matrix, designed to be fed to the sow prior to farrowing. By applying proven concepts from the dairy and poultry industries, three days of Triad supplementation induces metabolic changes, which allow the sow to efficiently utilize calcium from her body reserves during the farrowing process. In addition, Triad works in complement to reduced feeding intervals to accomplish a final goal of reducing farrowing duration, with fewer stillborn and hypoxic pigs delivered as a result.

We have completed three trials^1,2,3 utilizing Triad in this manner and are excited to have more trials in progress, further demonstrating the benefits of implementing Triad into your pre-farrow protocol. Across our trials, we found a consistent reduction in stillborn incidence, at 0.33 fewer stillborns per farrowing. Additionally, our research¹ has demonstrated a reduction of 1.4 hours of farrowing duration in the treated sows, compared to sows fed once daily. Further research² has demonstrated that stillborn incidence can be reduced further in sows fed twice per day while supplemented with Triad.

In another of our trials³, we successfully demonstrated a reduction in urine pH in sows treated with Triad prior to farrowing. Urine pH can be an effective on-farm measurement to evaluate the success of protocol implementation. We also found that urine bacterial counts were lessened in sows fed Triad, compared to the control group.

Clearly, there is an excellent opportunity to achieve financial gain with Triad supplementation.

Triad can be fed either as a top-dress or within complete feed prior to farrowing. The response is dose dependent, and we have found that feeding 25 grams per meal once per day, for at least three days pre-farrowing, delivers the most consistent and economic results. At $0.33 per feeding, Triad offers a significant returnFor example, feeding the product as a top-dress for three days, we expect a 0.33-piglet advantage; thus, the return on investment (ROI) per treated sow ranges from $6 to $13, considering a range of $20 to $40 value per weaned pig, respectively (Figure 1).

Amid the intricate choreography of farrowing, Triad offers a strategic advantage for your operation. The impact of feeding Triad extends beyond singular farrowing events; it contributes to the broader narrative of sustainable pig farming. By adopting Triad, you empower your operation with a tool that aligns with the ethos of progress: healthier sows, thriving piglets, and a resilient swine industry poised for excellence.

¹Peppmier et al. J. Anim. Sci. 2022.

²Bents and Galloway. AASV. 2022.

³Bents and Soto. Leman conference. 2023.

Authors: Dr. Andrew Bents and Dr. Jose Soto

I want to learn more about nutrition for my pig herd. 

Agri-food leaders around the world believe the industry can work together to create a better, more sustainable food system, according to the Alltech Sustainability Insights report, released today.

Alltech conducted a global, industry-wide survey to gather insights on the issues that matter most to the agri-food value chain and its stakeholders. In collaboration with Opinions, an independent research agency based in Ireland, Alltech collected insights through 26 interviews with industry leaders and via a comprehensive survey completed by more than 2,500 members of the agri-food industry. This effort presented an exciting opportunity to quantify attitudes and perceptions about sustainability from stakeholders across the agri-food value chain and identify tangible actions to build a more sustainable future.

“Our goal was to listen to the voices of our industry and its stakeholders and develop a robust, future-facing program of insights that are relevant, ambitious and genuinely impactful,” said Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech. “Our industry is navigating unprecedented disruption, yet it remains confident and committed to evolving toward a more sustainable food system. The key to success will be the development of innovative solutions, but even more critical is the capacity of the industry to work together across the value chain.”

The survey questions were focused on five areas: challenges and opportunities; drivers and priorities; attitudes toward change; support and guidance; and who they believe is going to pay for sustainability. The key findings of the survey include:

• While four out of five respondents agree that “climate change will make food production much more difficult in the future,” perspectives differ across the regions. A very real series of crises faces the agri-food industry and, for the most part, survey respondents acknowledged the gravity of those challenges and the fragility of our food system. There is a strong level of optimism and positivity however, with 85% of respondents agreeing that the food system can rise to the challenge.
   
• Almost three in four respondents reported feeling that a lot more guidance is needed to support their improvements in environmental sustainability. The need for guidance is expressed most strongly at the latter end of the value chain (e.g., retailers, food-service operators and manufacturers).
   
• Most respondents agree that regulation is putting pressure on all areas of the supply chain. Respondents were similarly realistic about the need for support for the primary producers of the food that the 8 billion people on this planet eat: 66% agree that until the farmer is incentivized financially, things will never change.
   
• Many recognize that we will not be able to resolve the challenges ahead without a huge degree of innovation and harnessing technology to enable us to feed ourselves sustainably, with 92% of respondents believing that technology and innovation are key to more sustainable food systems.
   
• There is a near-universal recognition that we need a collaborative conversation and effort across the value chain, with 93% of respondents agreeing that we all must work together to create a better food system for the future.

“Our industry is navigating extraordinary times, but the opportunities for positive impact are even more unprecedented,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “Imagine what is possible when we all work toward the shared goals of providing nutrition for all, revitalizing local economies and replenishing the planet’s natural resources.”

For more information and survey results, visit alltech.com/sustainability-insights.

Leveraging the strength of a global marketing team embedded within local markets throughout the world, Alltech is enhancing its marketing capabilities and establishing new teams to deliver greater strategic partnership across the business for Alltech’s customers.

“We are capitalizing on the geographical and value chain differentiators of our global marketing structure, providing more pathways for our field-based team members to bring the voice of the customer back into the business,” said Susanna Elliott, chief marketing and communications officer at Alltech. “Our globally connected yet locally focused marketing strategy is aligning to deliver more relevance – and competitive edge – to our customers.”

Within marketing, the company is establishing a new Data & Insights function, positioning its creative team to take a global creative agency approach and building new pathways for market and customer engagement. To champion these enhanced capabilities, new appointments within Alltech’s global marketing team include:

Creative team:

• Lisa Smith (USA), Director of Creative Operations & Marketing Development
• Alan Henthorne (USA), Creative Director
• Irene MacHugh (Ireland), Associate Creative Director
• Jennifer Allen (USA), Global Art Director
• Ruth Kelly (Ireland), Design Manager for Europe and Asia-Pacific

Data & Insights team:

• Amanda Stumbo (USA), Director of Business Insights
• Roel Coenders (USA), Associate Director of Data
• Leona Shaojing Luo (Ireland), Associate Director of Business Intelligence
• Clare Fahey (Ireland), Director of Customer Insights

Communications team:

• Lorie Hailey (USA), Director of Communications
• Liana Dobler (Spain), Spanish & Portuguese Communications Manager

Species teams:

• Danieke Ewalts (Netherlands), Global Aqua Marketing Lead
• Species marketing councils have been created that include regional marketing experts in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

For more information about Alltech, visit alltech.com.